CSIRO on The Conversation

The Great Southern Reef is unique, beautiful and contributes significantly to Australia’s culture and economy. However, few of us realise the magnitude and value of this gem right at our doorstep. T. Wernberg 2002

August 16, 2015

Australia’s ‘other’ reef is worth more than $10 billion a year - but have you heard of it?

Thomas Wernberg, The University of Western Australia; Alistair Hobday, CSIRO; Craig Johnson, University of Tasmania; Elvira Poloczanska, CSIRO; Scott Bennett, Curtin University, and Sean Connell, University of Adelaide

The Great Southern Reef covers 71,000 square km and contributes more than A$10 billion to Australia’s economy each year.

The yellow-footed rock wallaby is just one of the rare species found in the Lake Eyre Basin. Angus Emmott

August 11, 2015

Protecting Australia’s Lake Eyre basin means getting our priorities right

Jennifer Firn, Queensland University of Technology; Andrew Reeson, CSIRO; Belinda Walters, CSIRO; Hugh Possingham, The University of Queensland; Iadine Chadès, CSIRO; Jean-Baptiste Pichancourt, CSIRO; Josie Carwardine, CSIRO; Ramona Maggini, The University of Queensland; Rocio Ponce-Reyes, CSIRO; Sam Nicol, CSIRO, and Tara Martin, CSIRO

Taking into account the rivers that drain into it and where they come from, the Lake Eyre Basin is one of largest inland draining systems in the world, the size of Germany, France and Italy combined.

Environment Minister Greg Hunt, Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop at the announcement of Australia’s 2030 climate target. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

August 11, 2015

Australia’s post-2020 climate target not enough to stop 2C warming: experts

Pep Canadell, CSIRO; Anna Skarbek, Monash University; Cathy Alexander, The University of Melbourne; Dr Anita Talberg, The University of Melbourne, and Peter Christoff, The University of Melbourne

Australia will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2030. Experts respond.

The large 1982 El Niño contributed to the Ash Wednesday bushfires that killed 75 people in south east Australia. Sydney Oats/Wikimedia

August 10, 2015

Odds keep rising for a big El Niño in 2015

Jaci Brown, CSIRO; Andrew B. Watkins, Australian Bureau of Meteorology, and Madeleine Cahill, CSIRO

El Niño has arrived, it’s getting stronger, and it’s not about to go away soon. And already there are rumblings that this could be a big one.

Eye testing in remote areas of Australia with the images stored and set via satellite to city-based specialists. CSIRO

August 7, 2015

Healthcare’s technology revolution means a boost for jobs in IT

David Hansen, CSIRO

The health sector is good at using technology to help treat patients, but it’s not so good with technology in the business of health care.

The wasp’s pupa commandeering an enslaved spider. Keizo Takasuka

August 6, 2015

Wasps turn spiders into their zombie bodyguards, then kill them

Eliza Berlage, The Conversation

Scientists in Japan have discovered a new species of wasp that induces a zombie-like state in spiders in order to manipulate them into protecting the wasp’s own offspring.

Replanting forests is one way to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This is a site in China. CIFOR/Flickr

August 3, 2015

Reducing emissions alone won’t stop climate change: new research

Richard Matear, CSIRO and Andrew Lenton, CSIRO

New research shows that we’ll have to remove carbon from the atmosphere for any chance of keeping warming below 2C.

Will climate change cause mosquito-borne diseases to spread? Steve Doggett

July 21, 2015

A tale of three mosquitoes: how a warming world could spread disease

David Yeates, CSIRO

Could climate change cause mosquito-borne diseases to spread? While this an extremely important health question, the answer is far from simple.

The 64-metre Parkes Radio telescope will be instrumental in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. CSIRO/David McClenaghan

July 21, 2015

The hunt for ET will boost Australian astronomy

Lewis Ball, CSIRO

The Parkes radio telescope is part of the US$100 million search for life elsewhere in the universe, but the investment will also benefit other space research at The Dish.

Research and technology can improve the yield and sustainability of crops like wheat. Lauren Tucker/Flickr

July 19, 2015

Australia has a big role to play in feeding the world

Joanne Daly, CSIRO; Rachel A. Ankeny, University of Adelaide; Richard Richards, CSIRO; Sally Gras, The University of Melbourne, and Stephen Powles, The University of Western Australia

By embracing science and technology, Australia’s agricultural industry could be more efficient, productive and sustainable.

Studies based on Mediterranean diet, combined with exercise, have proved groundbreaking in managing type 2 diabetes. from shutterstock.com

July 14, 2015

How the right diet can control diabetes and reduce its massive economic costs

Chris Proud, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute; Grant Brinkworth, CSIRO, and Manny Noakes, CSIRO

For decades, a low fat and sugar free diet were key to controlling type 2 diabetes. Now, new data shows a diet high in protein and healthy fats has better outcomes for the disease.

Soil and water are crucial resources that need to be carefully studied and preserved. Pete Hill/Flickr

July 13, 2015

Science can drive the sustainability of our precious soils, water and oceans

John Gunn, Australian Institute of Marine Science; Neil McKenzie, CSIRO, and Paul Bertsch, CSIRO

There will be increasing demands placed on our soil and water in coming years, so we need greater research into how to preserve and maintain these precious resources.

Technologies like 3d printing and robotics will be crucial aspects of Australia’s manufacturing future. Oak Ridge National Laboratory

July 5, 2015

The future of manufacturing in Australia is smart, agile and green

Alan Finkel, Monash University; Cathy Foley, CSIRO, and Veena Sahajwalla, UNSW Sydney

Australia has a bright future in advanced manufacturing, but it will be a turbulent transition that we need to manage carefully.

Ironically, meeting global targets to preserve a proportion of the world’s forest could weaken motivation to protect the rest of it. Jami Dwyer/Wikimedia Commons

June 10, 2015

Conservation parks are growing, so why are species still declining?

Ro Hill, CSIRO; Barry Newell, Australian National University; Iain Gordon, James Hutton Institute, and Michael Dunlop, CSIRO

It’s now five years since the International Year of Biodiversity, and nearly 15% of Earth’s land surface is protected in parks and reserves. By 2020, we should reach the agreed global target of 17%. This…

Whale sharks were one of the warm water species to move south during the 2010-2011 marine heatwave. Ben Henrich/Flickr

May 14, 2015

The good-news El Niño story for Western Australia’s oceans

Jaci Brown, CSIRO; Madeleine Cahill, CSIRO; Ming Feng, CSIRO, and Xuebin Zhang, CSIRO

While eastern Australia trembles in the face of an El Niño, Western Australia’s oceans could finally see relief from devastating marine heatwaves.

Every year millions of birds migrate between Australia and the northern Hemisphere. Mdk572/Wikimedia

May 13, 2015

We need to get smarter to save shorebirds from rising seas

Sam Nicol, CSIRO; Iadine Chadès, CSIRO; Richard Fuller, The University of Queensland, and Takuya Iwamura, Stanford University

Five million shorebirds migrate between Australia and the northern hemisphere, threatened by habitat destruction, and rising seas. How can we protect this natural marvel?

Rising sea levels are one of the clearest and most widespread manifestations of climate change. Steven Godfrey

May 11, 2015

Sea level is rising fast – and it seems to be speeding up

Christopher Watson, University of Tasmania; John Church, CSIRO, and Matt King, University of Tasmania

Since 1993, satellites have been used as well as tidal gauges to monitor sea level. A new calibration of this satellite record now shows that the rise in sea level is gathering pace.

Protecting your privacy when your data collected for one use might have a secondary use for other researchers. Flickr/

May 8, 2015

Big Data is useful, but we need to protect your privacy too

Christine O'Keefe, CSIRO

Researchers are tapping into some of the massive amounts data collected these days, which could include information about you. But how do they protect your privacy?